Kent State basketball loads up with recruits as new season begins

Geno Ford, Kent State head coachKent State basketball has been busy recruiting this off-season as the Golden Flashes will have six seniors to replace after this season. According to internet recruiting sites KSU has already gotten early verbals from 6-8 Mark Henninger from Massillon Jackson High, 6-7 Kenny Knight from Cincinnati, 6-4 guard Eric Gaines from Chicago and most recently 6-4 junior college guard Carlton Guyton, also a native of Chicago.

Clearly, in his second season, head coach Geno Ford has identified long and athletic perimeter players will be an identifying mark for his KSU program.

Ford recently indicated he will hold at least one scholarship decision until the late signing period with the ultimate use depending on how his four newcomers fare this season. Three junior college transfers - 6-2 Ian Pinckney, 6-4 Greg Avilla and 6-11 Justin Manns - must adjust quickly, along with freshman point guard Randall Holt, for KSU to be successful.

"It has been what you expect during individuals,'' Ford said recently. "The new guys started slow, and then picked it up lately. But that's going to change again when team practices start, so it will be awhile before we really know how much some of these guys can help us.''

Still, the best addition could be a familiar face as junior guard Rodriguez Sherman returns after stitting out last season due to microfracture knee surgery.

While Ford is quick to point out post players are hardest to project, until they actually face live action, clearly the player who continues to get better is Manns. His youth (recently turned 20-years-old), inexperience (three years of organized basketball) and size (215-pounds) scream for a redshirt season to mature.

But Manns plays the game above the rim offensively and defensively which is a dimension KSU has not seen since Haminn Quaintance and Mike Scott departed two seasons ago. With no dependable power forward on hand, Manns would be nice to have along with 6-10, 260-pound senior Brandon Parks and 6-8, 225-pound sophomore Justin Green in the post.

If Manns redshirts, then undersized 6-4 Greg Avilla must step forward, and he is clearly the farthest behind of all the newcomers.

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